"Heard # Indians are seriously targeting starting pitching and have recently had dialogue with a few. A name or two that might "surprise" fans" - Nick Camino

Any guesses on who? Lohse? Jurrjens?

It has been an interesting off season.

As I look for the reason that we are being more aggressive, it seems that two thing are different. One is Francona and the second is that we have money due to Hafner and Sizemore being off the books.  

I tend to think a lot has to do with Francona and it gives me reason for hope.

dodgers have too much pitching, maybe something there....

jisch wrote: dodgers have too much pitching, maybe something there....

Yeah, I am thinking it is probably a trade more than anything.

Lohshe is kind of interesting, and I would be surprised, but that is about it as far as free agents that would surprise me.

chitownmike wrote:

Rick Porcello?  Just a wild guess.
Mike

Amazingly, Porcello just turned 24 and has 4 full seasons under his belt. But he's never quite duplicated his rookie season and has been basically an innings eater.  

But I think he would cost the Indians a lot in prospects given his youth and he is arbitration eligible which means he'll probably get a pretty heft contract. I don't see the Indians going after him.

Matt Underwood reported a month ago that at the Winter Meetings, the Indians were VERY close to trading Asdrubal to DET for Porcello and 2 Prospects....deal fell through when the Indians asked for a 3rd prospect.

Porcello would certainly be a surprise.

tribefan40 wrote: "Heard # Indians are seriously targeting starting pitching and have recently had dialogue with a few. A name or two that might "surprise" fans" - Nick Camino

Any guesses on who? Lohse? Jurrjens?

Cliff Lee

Camino should have put "fans" in quotes instead of "surprise"

John Lester or Josh Beckett...

seriously though FA wise Marcum and Lohse are all I see as real upgrades....maybe Francona thinks he can get Dice-K to be productive but I doubt it.

+1 CLIFF LEE

PPark wrote:

tribefan40 wrote: "Heard # Indians are seriously targeting starting pitching and have recently had dialogue with a few. A name or two that might "surprise" fans" - Nick Camino

Any guesses on who? Lohse? Jurrjens?

Cliff Lee

They need to go young veteran road. Lee, while good, will want too much and in my opinion will decline soon.

Lee is not a free agent. What he wants is irrelevant, unless he can block a trade.

Not that I think getting him would.necessarily be a good thing, unless they are sitting on piles of cash.

TitoFrancona wrote:

chitownmike wrote:

Rick Porcello?  Just a wild guess.
Mike

Amazingly, Porcello just turned 24 and has 4 full seasons under his belt. But he's never quite duplicated his rookie season and has been basically an innings eater.  

But I think he would cost the Indians a lot in prospects given his youth and he is arbitration eligible which means he'll probably get a pretty heft contract. I don't see the Indians going after him.

He had a bit of bad luck with a very high BABIP last year, but still his numbers don't show enough growth to justify the salary he is going to get for the next 3 years.

How about Tim Lincecum that would be surprising.

If the tweet is accurate (and we know everything on the internet is true) then it must be a free agent since the Indians could not have dialogue with a player on another roster.  Remaining free agent pitchers of any note is pretty much down to Lohse and Marcum.

CalBuckeyeRob wrote: If the tweet is accurate (and we know everything on the internet is true) then it must be a free agent since the Indians could not have dialogue with a player on another roster.  Remaining free agent pitchers of any note is pretty much down to Lohse and Marcum.

Yep

I thought there were already rumors floating on Lohse, Marcum, and especially Saunders in regard to the Indians. 

Derek Lowe, Kevin Millwood, Carl Pavano would certainly be a "surprise", and the biggest surprise would be Rafael Soriano simply because it wouldn't make sense as a single move (or any for that matter).

I'm sorry, but I'd pass on Lohse.  This is a guy who when he was in the AL had an ERA of 4.88.  His NL ERA is 4.07 which would indicate to me at least, that he's a guy more suited for the NL which is typically a more pitcher friendly league.  Now Marcum would definitely interest me.  While his ERA is lower in his NL time just like Lohse, Marcum's AL ERA is 3.85 which is still very respectable.

As for trading Asdrubal for Porcello, color me as unimpressed.  No way I trade an All-Star SS for Porcello UNLESS I'm getting back the Tigers top prospect as well.  Porcello is a 4th or 5th starter an at the very best a #3 and that is if he improves some.  Now if you're talking about Scherzer or Fister in a deal for Asdrubal, then sign me up.

As for Cliff Lee I can't really see a fit with the Phillies as they are set at 2B and SS with Utley and Rollins so I don't see how they'd want to deal Cabrera for Lee.  And even the, the Phillies would almost have to pick up at least half of Cliff Lee's salary.

The Dodgers could be interesting.  I would gladly take one of Billingsley and Beckett for Asdrubal.  If we could get Dee Gordon in the deal I'd have no real objection.  Sure he doesn't hit for power, but he's got a ton of speed and he could still turn into a decent hitter average wise and in a full season he's got 50-60 stolen base potential which could be huge for our lineup.

Trade  Masterson for Cliff Lee and Dominic Brown, with Philly eating 25 million of his remaining contract. Philly signs Michael Bourne with their savings, helping to improve what might be the worst set of starting outfielders in the major leagues. We get a true #1 who is a lefty,  and a former top OF prospect to work in with Stubbs.
Fans begin to forgive Dolan for letting Lee go for a bag of misfit toys.